The Summit County elections board won’t have an off-site for early voting, instead solely offering in-person voting at the board’s Grant Street office.

Secretary of State Jon Husted broke three tie votes by the Summit board on early voting today, rejecting dueling off-site locations suggested by the Republican and Democratic board members.

"The Summit County Board of elections has a large building with ample unallocated or flexible-use space that can easily be re-purposed to accommodate in-person absentee voting," Husted said in his decision.

The Republican board members proposed having early voting at the board or, if Husted favored another location, renting the second floor of the Beacon Journal building in downtown Akron. The Democratic Board members wanted to use the former hhgregg store near Chapel Hill Mall.

Husted didn’t like either spot, saying "neither side in this controversy proposed genuine off-site solutions."

The board’s Democratic members were seeking an off-site for early voting because they think the board’s office is insufficient. The board had long lines and parking issues when early voting was done at the Grant Street office in the 2008 primary.

The early voting decisions were among several Husted made today for the Summit board, which has lately been regularly deadlocking. Husted is required when board’s can’t reach a consensus to cast the deciding vote.

Husted also broke tie votes regarding a hearing that alleged Akron City Council broke election laws with newsletters it published that advocated for and against local and statewide issues. The secretary of state broke a tie vote against sending the issue to the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office and directed the board to forward the matter to the state auditor.

Lastly, Husted broke a tie vote in favor of having public speaking during board meetings. He said the public comment period "may be limited to ensure that the board is able to complete the agenda." He directed the board to "adopt a consistent policy for public speaking" at meetings.

The Summit County elections board won’t have an off-site for early voting, instead solely offering in-person voting at the board’s Grant Street office.

Rick Santorum will return to Akron Wednesday, for the first time not as a Republican presidential candidate, but to stump for Mitt Romney, the presumed GOP nominee.

Santorum will headline a rally at Tangier restaurant, 532 W. Market St., from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. No tickets are required. Other area GOP candidates are expected to attend, but haven’t yet confirmed.

Santorum, who twice visited the Akron area before the March primary when he was still a candidate, will discuss President Barack Obama’s "war on religion" with his federal health care law, said Izzy Santa, a spokesperson for the Romney campaign.

The health care law requires coverage of sterilization, contraception and abortion-inducing drugs, which prompted court challenges and outcry from some religious leaders.

Before visiting Akron, Santorum will attend the Feast of Assumption at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Cleveland, participating in the solemn mass, church procession and Cavatelli dinner. After the Akron rally, he will return home to have dinner with his family.

Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, drew a record crowd of more than 1,350 to the Summit County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner in February. He made his last campaign stop before the March 6 primary at a rally at the pavilion at Falls River Square, making a pitch to about 250 people.

Romney claimed Ohio in the primary, helping to seal his status as the likely Republican nominee.

Rick Santorum will return to Akron Wednesday, for the first time not as a Republican presidential candidate, but to stump for Mitt Romney, the presumed GOP nominee.

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted has put the Lucas County elections board on administrative oversight, the Toledo Free Press is reporting.

Husted recently issued a blistering tie vote deccision to the Lucas board after the board wasn't able to make a decision on an organizational chart. He threatened serious changes at the board, including personnel, if the board couldn't agree on a chart.

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted announced today a new Web feature -- www.myohiovote.com -- that will allow voters to update their voting address online. Voters who have moved are required to update their registrations with the new address 30 days prior to the election.